Refrigerating apparatus



Jan. 12, 1960 R. E. GOULD REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 4, 1957 2 o m 7 7 8 9 vll 7 v m T n f\ 8 2 8 2 6 4 vflnunnn I/ I II/ I I z 1 I r w 5 5 B 7 B 5 7 2 4 9 6 5 3 v o 2 9 2 3 m l '41 2 r Fig.3

Jan. 12, 1960 R. E. GOULD REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledMarch 4, 1957 INVENTOR. Richard E. Goa/d BY Ms A H0 may Jan. 12, 1960 R.E. GOULD 2,920,463 I REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed March 4, 1957 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Ric/70rd E. Gould .WHof Wafer BY Cold WaterRgfrigeronf 6 His Altar ney dispenser shown in Figure 1;

REFRIGERATIN G APPARATUS I Richard E. Gould, Dayton, Ohio, assignor toGeneral Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of DelawareApplication March 4, 1957, Serial No. 643,727

13 Claims. (Cl. 62-390) This invention relates to refrigeratingapparatus and more particularly to refrigerating apparatus embodying aone/piece roll forge welded 5116611.

Roll forge welded evaporators manufactured by the process disclosed inthe Long Patent 2,662,273 issued December 15, 1953 are now beingextensively used. The construction is economical and adaptable.

It is an object of this invention to extend the roll forge welded sheetto form the condenser and connections in an economical, compactarrangement.

It is another object of this invention to provide, along with a unitaryplate condenser, a water cooling arrangement providing a hot waterdispenser.

It is another object of this invention to provide a multiple layer plateheat transfer unit having a continuous layer separating the refrigerantpassage from the other passages to prevent any possibility of even theminutest leakage from the refrigerant passage to the other passages.

It is another object of this invention to provide a roll forge weldedsheet containing condenser and evaporator passages as well as liquidheating and cooling passages for providing hot and cold liquids.

These and other objects are attained in the form shown in the drawingsin which the roll forge welded sheet is provided with two rectangularsections uniformly spaced from each other and connected by a transverseweb extending between the sections. One of these sections contains aserpentine condenser passage having a liquid heating passage extendingalong and adjacent thereto while the other section contains anevaporator passage and one or more liquid cooling passages extendingalong and adjacent the evaporator passage for supplying one or morecooled liquids. The passage connections between the condenser andevaporator sections extend continuously through the 'web. The condensersection may also have a superheat removal passage connected at itsopposite ends to the motor-compressor unit. The condenser may be cooledeither by natural or forced air circulation or by the liquid passageadjacent thereto, or both.

Further objects and advantages of the present inven- .fiOl'l will beapparent from the following description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein -a preferred form of the presentinvention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a liquid dispenser embodying one formof my invention;

I Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the 'line 22 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line :3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective View, with parts broken away to showthe plate construction of the liquid Figure 5 is a perspective view of amodified form of 'liquid dispenser;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken along the 1i11e 6- 6 ofFigure 5; I

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 77 of Figure5;

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view, with portions broken away toshow the plate construction of the dispenser shown in Figure 5; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a modifiedevaporator section containing a center layer separating the refrigerantand water passages.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1-4, inclusive, there is showna liquid dispenser provided with .a rectangular base 20 above which isprovided a larger rectangular vertical tubular casing 22 overhanging thebase 20, capped at the top with a liquid basin 24 provided with aconventional manually operated drinking water fountain or bubble '26. Inthe upper portion of the casing 22 there is provided a metal wallcompartment 28 closed by dual sliding doors 30 and 32. This compartmentcontains a hot water dispenser 34 controlled by a push-button 36 and twodifferently flavored beverage dispensers 38 and 40 (such as root beerand cola) controlled by the push-buttons 42 and 44. A drinking vessel 46may be placed in the compartment 28 beneath any one of the dispensers34, 38 or 40to receive either hot water or either of the beveragescontrolled by its own push-button.

The system for supplying the hot and cold water and the beveragesincludes a sealed motor-compressor unit 48 which is connected to aunitary roll forge welded sheet 50 containing a rectangular condensersection 52 and a rectangular evaporator section 54 located in parallelplanes and spaced from each other. These two sections 52 and 54 areintegrally connected by the transverse web section 56. Themotor-compressor unit 48 compresses the refrigerant and discharges thehot compressed refrigerant through the conduit 58 to a superheat removalpassage 60 extending in serpentine fashion within the bottom portion ofthe condenser section 52. This superheat removal passage 60 connects tothe conduit 62 returning the cooled gas to the motor-compressor unit 48where the cooled gas is used to cool the motor. The cooled butuncondensed gas is discharged from the motor-compressor unit 48 throughthe conduit 64 into the condenser passage 66 in the condenser section52.

p This condenser passage 66 extends in serpentine fashion through theupper portion of the condenser section 52 above the superheat removalpassage 60. The liquid dispenser is provided with a Water supply conduit68 which branches into a cold water supply conduit 70 and a hot watersupply conduit 71. The hot water supply conduit 71 connects to a hotwater passage 74 extending within and alongside of the condenser passage72 so that it will receive the heat of condensation directly from therefrigerant in the condenser passage 72. Thus, the heating of the liquidin the hot water passage 74 cools and condenses the refrigerant in thecondenser passage 72. The upper portion of the hot water passage 74connects to the conduit 76 which terminates in one branch connectingwith the thermostatic water control valve 78 and a second branch 80connecting with the hot water dispenser 34 controlled by the push-button36. The thermostatic control valve 78 allows the water to discharge tothe drain conduit 82 whenever it rises above a certain temperature suchas F. The drain conduit 82 extends from the drain 84 in the top basin 24to'a suitable drain. This insures not only that the refrigerant in thecondenser will be properly cooled but also insures a supply of hot waterat a desirable drinking temperature for the dispenser 34.

The lower end of the condenser passage 72 extends downwardly to arestrictor passage 86 located in the web section 56. This restrictorpassage 86 connects directly with the serpentine-shaped evaporatorpassage 88 located in the evaporator section 54. This passage 88 extendsto the top of the evaporator section and then downwardly into a portionof the web section 56 where it connects to the return conduit 91) whichmay be provided with a filter and/or a dryer 92 connecting with thesuction inlet of the motor-compressor unit 48. Extending alongside theevaporator passage, also in serpentine fashion, is the cold waterpassage 94 extending alongside the evaporator passage 88 and connectingthrough the conduit 96 to the push-button fountain 26 on top of thedispenser.

The dispenser is also provided with a metal-walled beverage compartment98 containing different flavored metal beverage containers such as aroot been container 121 and a cola container 123. Between these twocontainers 121 and 123 is a carbon dioxide container 125 containingcarbon dioxide under pressure. This container 125 is connected with thetop of both beverage containers 121 and 123 by suitable conduitconnections for keeping the beverages carbonated under pressure. Each ofthe beverage containers 121 and 123 is provided with a liquid dischargeconnection 127 and 129 which extends substantially to the bottom of thecontainer. These discharge connections 127 and 129 also extend andconnect to the first beverage passage 131 extending alongside the coldwater passage 94 in the evaporator section 54 and the second beveragepassage 133 extending alongside the evaporator passage 88. The upper endof the passage 131 connects to a conduit 135 connecting with thepushbutton valve 44 and its dispenser 49. The second beverage passage133 is connected by the conduit 137 with the second push-buttoncontrolled beverage valve 42 which connects with the dispenser 38.

The evaporator section 54 may be enclosed on opposite sides with heatinsulation 139 which may extend to the base 20 so as to provide anupwardly extending air passage or flue 141 extending from the bottom tothe top of the cabinet. The bottom of the cabinet may be provided withentrance apertures 143 in the portion which overhangs the base 21 and asuitable motor driven fan 145 may be located in the circular opening 147in the bottom of the insulation 139. This motor may be thermostaticallycontrolled according to the temperature in the conduit 76 or it maycycle with the motor-compressor unit 48. If desired, it may be omittedand full reliance placed upon natural convection of air and/or coolingby the water in the passage 74. The top of the cabinet may be providedwith discharge apertures 149 for the flue 141.

The motor-compressor unit 48 as well as the motor fan 145 may becontrolled by a thermostatic switch 151 provided with a thermoasensitivebulb 153 mounted upon the evaporator section 54 adjacent the beveragepassage 131. This construction and arrangement makes it possible to usethe low-cost construction of the roll forge welded metal sheet in aliquid dispenser provided with a refrigerating system to supply hot andcold water as well as two differently flavored beverages. The type andflavor of beverage can be changed merely by substituting differentbeverage containers containing other beverages in place of thecontainers 121 and 123.

In Figs. 6 to 8 there is shown another form of the invention including acabinet 220 provided wth a smaller base 222 and a basin 224 at the topprovided with a central drain 226. A sealed motor-compressor unit 228within the bottom of the cabinet has a superheat discharge conduit 230connecting directly with the superheat-passage 232 in the bottom of thecylindrical condenser section 234 of a unitary roll forge welded plate.This unitary plate also includes an inner cylindrical evaporator section236 concentric within the condenser section 234 and uniformly spacedtherefrom throughout. Each of these sections are of rectangular shapewhen considered in the form of developments of their surface or prior tobeing formed into a cylindrical shape, and

are joined by an integral web 238 extending across the space between thesections and providing all the common connecting passages. The superheatpassage 232 connects to the conduit 240 returning to themotor-compressor unit 228.

A discharge conduit 2.42 from the motor-compressor unit 228 connectswith the condenser passage 244 in the upper portion of the condensersection 234. This passage extends in serpentine fashion and then extendsto the web 238 where it connects with the restrictor passage 246connecting with the evaporator passage 248 in the evaporator section236. This evaporator passage extends in serpentine fashion through theevaporator section 236 and then connects to the suction conduit 250which connects through the filter dryer 252 to the suction inlet of themotor-compressor unit 228. The cylindrical evaporator section 236 may beprovided with sealed metal bottom and top walls 253 and 254 to form acentral cold water storage tank.

The outside of the evaporator section 236 is preferably enclosed in heatinsulation designated by the reference character 256. The insulation 256is preferably spaced away from the condenser section 234 to provide aflue 258 on the inside of the condenser section 234 and a second flue260 on the outside thereof. This provides for air cooling of thecondenser section 234 by natural convection. The air can enter throughthe inlets 262 provided in the overhanging section of the cabinet 220above the base 222. The air escapes through outlet apertures 246 in thetop of the cabinet.

The cabinet is also provided with a water supply connection 264 whichdivides into a hot water supply conduit 266 and a cold water supplyconduit 268. The hot water supply conduit connects to a passage 270 inthe web 238 extending to the condenser section and also extending alongand in heat transfer relationship with the condenser passage 244. Thispassage 279 then extends back to the web 238 and connects with theconduit 272 connecting with push-button valve 274 provided with adispenser discharge 276 for the hot water. The valve 274 may also have athermostatic element which opens the valve in case the temperatureexceeds a suitable value such as F.

The cold water supply conduit 268 connects to a passage 278 extendingfrom the web 238 into the evaporator section 236 where it extendsalongside the evaporator passage 248. This side-by-side relationship inthe section 236 causes the refrigerant evaporating in the evaporatorpassage to cool the water in the passage 278. The water, after passingthrough the passage 273, discharges into the central cold water storagetank formed by the bottom 253 and the top 254. The cold water flows outof the tank into the conduit 280 connecting with the push-button bubblerfountain 282 on the top basin 24 of the liquid dispenser. Thus, throughthis arrangement, both hot and cold water is provided by the roll forgewelded structure. The roll forge welded structure can be economicallymade and formed to the compact extensive concentric cylindricalarrangement of the evaporator and condenser sections with ease. Thestructure of the condenser section 234, the evaporator section 236 andthe connecting web 238 is made in one piece by the roll forge weldingprocess disclosed in the Long Patent 2,662,273 issued December 15, 1953.

Either of the evaporator sections 54 or 236 may be modified as shown inFig. 9 to provide a center layer 337 in between the outer layers 339 and341. Between the center layer 337 and the outer layer 339 there may beprovided the refrigerant passages 343. On the opposite side of thecenter layer 337 and closely adjacent to the refrigerant passages 343there may be provided the water passages 345 for cooling drinking water.The center layer protects the water from any possible contamination byreason of any failure of the weld in between the passages. Therefore,there will be no danger of any refrigerant getting into the watersystem. This will avoid possible violations of plumbing and sanitarycodes. Since the possible damage from refrigerant getting into thebeverage system is much less than the possible damage from refrigerantgetting into the water system, the beverage passages 347 and 349 may beprovided between the center layer and the outer layer 339 adjacent tothe refrigerant passages 343. However, if desired, these passages couldbe placed on the opposite side of the center layer between the centerlayer and the other outer layer 341. This makes it possible to moreclosely group the passages so that better heat transfer can be attainedwith less possibility of refrigerant leaking into the water system.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A liquid dispenser including a sheet metal structure havingrefrigerant condensing and evaporating passages formed therein, arefrigerant compressor for withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from saidevaporating passage and for discharging compressed refrigerant into saidcondensing passage, flow control means for controlling the flow ofrefrigerant from said condensing passage to said evaporating passage,said sheet metal structure being provided with a first liquid heatingpassage extending adjacent to and in heat transfer relation with saidcondensing passage and a second liquid cooling passage extendingadjacent to and in heat transfer relation with said evaporating passage,liquid supply means connected to said first and second passages, andselective dispensing means connected to said first and second passagesfor selectively dispensing hot and cold liquids.

2. A liquid dispenser including a roll welded sheet metal structurehaving refrigerant condensing and evaporating passages formed therein, arefrigerant compressor for withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from saidevaporating passage and for discharging compressed refrigerant into saidcondensing passage, flow control means for controlling the flow ofrefrigerant from said condensing passage to said evaporating passage,said sheet metal structure being provided with a first liquid heatingpas; sage extending adjacent to and in heat transfer relation with saidcondensing passage and a second liquid cooling passage extendingadjacent to and in heat transfer relation with said evaporating passage,liquid supply means connected to said first and second passages, andselective dispensing means connected to said first and second passagesfor selectively dispensing hot and cold liquids, said structure beingformed of two sheets welded together except where the passages arelocated.

3. A liquid dispenser including a one piece metal plate having formedtherein a condenser passage and a liquid heating passage extending alongand adjacent to said condenser passage and an evaporator passage and aliquid cooling passage extending along and adjacent to said evaporatorpassage and a flow control means connecting said condenser andevaporator passage, all of said passages being formed in said plate, arefrigerant compressor for withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from saidevaporator passage and forwarding compressed refrigerant to saidcondenser passage, liquid supply means connected to said first andsecond passages, and selective dispensing means connected to said firstand second passages for selectively dispensing hot and cold liquids.

4. A liquid dispenser including a one piece metal plate having formedtherein a condenser passage and a liquid heating passage extending alongand adjacent to said condenser passage and an evaporator passage and aliquid cooling passage extending along and adjacent to said evaporatorpassage and a flow control means connecting said condenser andevaporator passage, all of said passages being formed in said plate, arefrigerant compressor for withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from saidevaporator passage and forwarding compressed refrigerant to saidcondenser passage, liquid supply means connected to said first andsecond passages, and selective dispensing means connected to said firstand second passages for selectively dispensing hot and cold liquids, theportion of said plate containing said condenser and liquid heatingpassage being substantially uniformlyspa'ced from said portioncontaining said evaporator and liquid cooling passages, and insulatingmeans between said portions.

5. A liquid dispenser including a sheet metal structure havingrefrigerant condensing and evaporating passages formed therein, flowcontrol means for controlling the flow of refrigerant from saidcondensing passage to said evaporating passage, a refrigerant compressorfor withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from said evaporating passage andfor discharging, compressed refrigerant into said condensing passage,said sheet metal structure having a liquid heating passage extendingadjacent to and in heattransfer relation with said condensing passageand a plurality of liquid cooling passages extending adjacent to and inheat transfer relation with said evaporating passage, all of saidpassages being formed in said structure, water supply means connected tosaid heating passage and one of said cooling passages, a flavoredbeverage supply means connected to a second of said cooling passages,and selective dispensing means connected individually to each of saidliquid passages for selectively dispensing hot and cold water and aflavored beverage.

6. A liquid dispenser including a sheet metal structure havingrefrigerant condensing and evaporating passages formed therein, flowcontrol means for controlling the flow of refrigerant from saidcondensing passage to said evaporating passage, a refrigerant compressorfor withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from said evaporating passage andfor discharging compressed refrigerant into said condensing passage,said sheet metal structure having a liquid heating passage extendingadjacent to and in heat transfer relation with said condensing passageand a plurality of liquid cooling, passages extending adjacent to and inheat transfer relation with said evaporating passage, all of saidpassages being formed in saidstructure, water supply means connected tosaid heating passage and one of said cooling passages, first and seconddifferent flavored beverage supply means individuallyconnected to thesecond and third cooling passages, and selective dispensing meansconnected individually to each of said liquid passages for selectivelydispensing hot and cold water and two different flavored beverages.

7. Refrigerating apparatus including a roll forge welded unitary platecontaining a substantially rectangular condenser section provided withintegral condenser passages and a substantially rectangular evaporatorsection substantially uniformly spaced throughout from the con densersection provided with integral evaporator passages and a single integralnarrow web section extending transversely across the space between saidsections and connecting said condenser and evaporator sectionscontaining a restrictor passage connecting the outlet of the condenserpassage with the inlet of said evaporator passage, all of said sectionsbeing an integral part of said plate, insulating means located in thespace between said condenser and evaporator sections, and a motorcompressor unit having a discharge connection connecting with the otherend of said condenser passage and a suction connection connecting withthe other end of said evaporator passage.

8. Refrigerating apparatus including a roll forge welded unitary platecontaining a substantially rectangular condenser sectionprovided withintegral condenser passages and a substantially rectangular evaporatorsection substantially uniformly spaced throughout from the condensersection provided with integral evaporator passages and a single integralnarrow web section extending transversely across the space between saidsections and connecting said condenser and-evaporator sectionscontaining a restrictor passage connecting the outlet of the con denserpassage with the inlet of said evaporator passage, all of said sectionsbeing an integral part of said plate, insulating means located in thespace between said condenser and evaporator sections, and a motorcompressor unit having a discharge connection connecting with the otherend of said condenser passage and a suction connection connecting withthe other end of said evaporator passage, said condenser and evaporatorsections being in the form of concentric cylinders.

9. Refrigerating apparatus including a roll forge welded unitary platecontaining a substantially rectangular condenser section provided withintegral condenser passages and a substantially rectangular evaporatorsection substantially uniformly spaced throughout from the condensersection provided with integral evaporator passages and a single integralnarrow web section extending transversely across the space between saidsections and connecting said condenser and evaporator sectionscontaining a restrictor passage connecting the outlet of the condenserpassage with the inlet of said evaporator passage, all of said sectionsbeing an integral part of said plate, insulating means located in thespace between said condenser and evaporator sections, and a motorcompressor unit having a discharge connection connecting with the otherend of said condenser passage and a suction connection connecting withthe other end of said evaporator passage, said condenser section havingan integral liquid passage extending along and adjacent to saidcondenser passage.

10. Refrigerating apparatus including a one piece metal plate havingformed therein a condenser passage and a liquid passage extending alongand adjacent to said condenser passage, a water supply connection forsaid liquid passage, a drain connection for said liquid passage, athermostatically controlled valve between said liquid passage and saiddrain connection, a liquid dispenser connected to said liquid passage,and evaporating and compressing means connected to opposite ends of saidcondenser passage.

11. Refrigerating apparatus including a three layer roll forge weldedmetal plate having a refrigerant passage provided between the centerlayer and one of the facing layers and having a separate fluid passageon the opposite side of said center layer between said center layer andthe other facing layer, means for circulating water through saidseparate passage in heat transfer relation through said center layerwith said refrigerant passage, and refrigerant compressing meansconnected to said refrigerant passage, said plate having an additionalpassage extending alongside said refrigerant passage between said centerlayer and said one facing layer, and means for circulating a third fluidthrough said additional passage.

12. Refrigerating apparatus including a roll forge welded unitary platecontaining a substantially rectangular condenser section provided withintegral condenser passages and a substantially rectangular evaporatorsection substantially uniformly spaced throughout from the condensersection provided with integral evaporator passages and a single integralnarrow web section extending transversely across the space between saidsections and connecting said condenser and evaporator sectionscontaining a restrictor passage connecting the outlet of the condenserpassage with the inlet of said evaporator passage, all of said sectionsbeing an integral part of said plate, insulating means located in thespace between said condenser and evaporator sections, and a motorcompressor unit having a discharge connection connecting with the otherend of said condenser passage and a suction connection connecting withthe other end of said evaporator passage, said condenser and evaporatorsections being in the form of concentric cylinders, the innermostcylinder being provided with spaced metal walls transverse to its axisto form a storage tank, one of said sections being provided With aliquid passage extending within the plate sealed and spaced from but inheat transfer relation with the refrigerant passage therein, said liquidpassage communicating with said storage tank.

13. A liquid dispenser including a cylindrical roll forge welded unitaryplate containing a refrigerant evaporating passage and a liquid passageextending along and adjacent each other, said cylindrical plate beingprovided with spaced metal walls transverse to its axis to form astorage tank, said liquid passage discharging into said tank, liquiddispensing means connected to said tank, and refrigerant liquefyingmeans connected to said evaporating passage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,303,577 Ottenheimer Dec. 1, 1942 2,471,960 Johnson May 31, 19492,575,325 Ambrose et al Nov. 20, 1951 2,636,358 Chappelle Apr. 28, 19532,679,732 Dolz June 1, 1954 2,845,695 Grenell Aug. 5, 1958 2,850,884Jacobs Sept. 9, 1958 Rife

